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USTR's Office of the Western Hemisphere is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring U.S. trade policy in the Western Hemisphere.

The Office leads the negotiation and implementation of U.S. trade agreements in the Western Hemisphere, and oversees the administration and operation of these agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, and U.S. Free Trade Agreements with Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Panama. It also leads policy development and coordination of Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership (TPP) negotiations as they relate to countries in the Western Hemisphere.

The Office of the Western Hemisphere also manages U.S. trade relations with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM), including bilateral trade councils with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. In addition, it oversees U.S. trade preference programs in the region, including the Caribbean Basin Initiative, the Andean Trade Preference Act and the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement.

U.S.-Western Hemispheres Trade Facts

U.S. goods and services trade with the Western Hemisphere totaled $1.8 trillion in 2013. Exports totaled $904 billion; Imports totaled $890 billion. The U.S. goods and services trade surplus with the Western Hemisphere was $12 billion in 2013.

The United States has $1.5 trillion in total (two ways) goods trade with Western Hemisphere countries during 2013. Goods exports totaled $712 billion; Goods imports totaled $772 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere was $60 billion in 2013.

Trade in services with the Western Hemisphere (exports and imports) totaled $309 billion in 2013. Services exports were $191 billion; Services imports were $118 billion. The U.S. services trade surplus with the Western Hemisphere was $73 billion in 2013.

According to Department of Commerce, U.S. exports of Goods and Services to Western Hemisphere supported an estimated 3.3 million in jobs in 2013 (3.1 million supported by goods exports and 1.2 million supported by service exports).

Exports

U.S. goods exports to the Western Hemisphere in 2013 were $712.1 billion, up 2.9% ($20.3 billion) from 2012. U.S. exports to the Western Hemisphere accounted for 45.1% of overall U.S. goods exports in 2013.

U.S. exports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) to the Western Hemisphere were $190.8 billion in 2013, up 5.6% ($10.1 billion) from 2012.

Imports

U.S. goods imports from the Western Hemisphere totaled $771.6 billion in 2013, down 0.3% ($2.1 billion), from 2012. U.S. imports from the Western Hemisphere accounted for 34.0% of overall U.S. goods imports in 2013.

U.S. imports of private commercial services* (i.e., excluding military and government) were $118.1 billion in 2013, up 0.7% ($801 million) from 2012.

Trade Balances

The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere was $59.5 billion in 2013, a 27.3% decrease ($22.4 billion) over 2012. The U.S. goods trade deficit with the Western Hemisphere accounted for 8.6% of the overall U.S. goods trade deficit in 2013.

The United States had a services trade surplus of $72.7 billion with the Western Hemisphere countries in 2013, up 9.3% from 2012.

Investment

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Western Hemisphere Countries (stock) was $1.3 trillion in 2013, up 5.2% from 2012.

U.S. direct investment in the Western Hemisphere countries is led by the nonbank holding companies, finance/insurance, and manufacturing sectors.

The Western Hemisphere Countries FDI in the United States (stock) was $337.6 billion in 2013, up 11.7% from 2012.

Western Hemisphere countries’ FDI in the Unites States is led by the manufacturing, finance/insurance, and banking sectors.

Further Information

Click on a side tab for information on trade with countries of the Americas.